Spike-machine



L. J. BERKELEY.

SPIKE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY I0. 1918.

1,345,064. PatenteaJunezs), 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. J. BERKELEY. SPIKE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIO, Isla.

E. 1. BERKELEY.

SPIKE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I0, i918.

Patented June 29, 1920.

| T I l I l l l x I ai to 10106.36'.

L. J.. BERKELEY.

SPIKE MACHINE. l APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1918.

1,345,064, Patented June 29, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

4l 9 E e UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicaf LAURENCE JwBEILKELEY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO'HERCULES MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF RACINRTJISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SPIKE-MACHINE.

specification of Letters Patent. Patent-ed June 29, 1920,

Application filed May 10, 1918. Serial No. 233,715.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LAURENCE J. BERKE- LEY, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spike-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to machines of the type shown and described in my application Serial No. 210,599, filed January 7, 1918, for forming spikes with points, bodies and heads of various or any desired shapes.

The main objects areto facilitate the production of spikes by first rolling and form-4 ing the bodies with the points foremost and cutting to length from continuous'blanks or bars of substantially uniform cross section and then forming heads on the `formed `and,

severed bodies without reversing them lin the machine; to provide for-the formation ofv spikes with so-called dog-eared heads as well as with heads of other shapes; and generally to improve the construction and operation of machines of this class.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly'described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the spike machine embodying the invention, parts being removed and other parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the machine on the line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation as viewed from the rightrelative to Fig. 5; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section -on the line 4 4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 isa similar crosssectionloo-king in the opposite direction on vthe line 5 5, Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 6-6, Fig. 7. of the heading dies; Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of said dies as viewed from the left relative to Fig. 6, and a vertical section of associated parts of the frame on the line iV-7, Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an inverted plan Vview of the vertically and laterally movable heading dies;`Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross section on the line 9 9, Fig. 1 of one side yof the jaw carriage, showing one of the clamping jaws and its adjustable link connections with the carriage; Fig'. 10 is an enlarged cross section on the line 10-10, Fig. 9, of one of the links; Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the body forming and pointing die rolls; Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line lil-12,

Figs. 1 and 13,of one of the air `cushionretarding connections of the nipper frame Fig. 13 is a plan view of the cushioncylinders and their connections, and Fig. 14: is a cross section -on the line 14-,1/1, Fig. 11.`

In the following description of the construction and operation of the machine,'the end adjacent to which the body forming and pointing die rolls are located isregarded as the front end, and movements of the work and working .parts of the ymachine towardA the opposite end of the machine adjacent to, which the main drive shaft is located, are regarded as advance or forward movements while movements inthe opposite direction are regarded as backward movements.

VThe machine comprises a pair of shouldered body forming and pointing die rolls 1 and 2, mounted one above the other on parallel horizontal shafts 3 and 4, which are provided with bearings in the `frame 5. As shown in Figs. 2, 11 and 111, the rolls 1 and 2 are each provided with a series of hardened steel body forming `and pointing dies 6, which are detachably fastened with shouldered and radially slotted die and spacvshown and described in my former application above mentioned. rIh'e dies of both rollsl are correspondingly spaced and arranged in the same vertical plane so as tol register exactly in pairs on the approaching sides ofthe rolls between `which the spike bars or blanks are fed.

The shafts 3 and .tare connected at. one end by gears 12 and 13, by which the rolls are compelled to rotate in opposite directions at the same peripheral speed. At the 28, with which the carriage is provided adj a-l opposite end the lower shaft 4 is provided, as shown in Figs. l and 4, with a ratchet wheel 14 and an oscillatory pawl carrier l5, to the upper end of which a pawl V16 is pivoted.V

The bearings of the upper shaft 3 aie vertically adjustable by means of screws 32, to set and hold the dies 6 of the upper roll at the desired distance from the opposing f end of the rocker arm 20 with the lower end ofthe pawl carrier 15.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a reciprocating carriage 23, is mounted on horizontal ways.

24, formed on or attached to the sides of the frame 5 between and transversely to the axes of therolls 1 and 2, andis connected by rods 31, with upwardly extending rocker arms 25, fixed on the shaft 2l.

Laterally or transversely opening and closing clamping jaws or dies 26, are

mounted on the Ycarriage 23, and are movable therewith forward and back alongside the roll dies 6, with whichthey coperate during each simultaneous advance movement of the Arolls and aws, to form the shanks or bodies and points of spikes from continuous bars or blanks. The carriage 23 is capable of a limited longitudinal movement relative to and independently of the jaws 26, the extent of such movement being' determined by fixed stops 27 and'adjiistable stop screws cent to opposite ends of the jaws.

.The jaws are connected by transversely disposed links 29 with transversely adjustable pivot blocks 30, whichare guided in openings in the carriage and are adjusted transversely to its travel by wedges 33,'

which in turn are adjusted lengthwise by screws 34, to` determine and regulate the degree of approach of the jaws toward each other, and their proper relation to the roll dies 6. Y

Spiral springs 35, interposed between the inner sides-of the pivot blocks 80 and the inner walls of the openings in which they are guided, yieldingly hold the blocks against the wedges, and enable the links 29, when they are turned as shown in Fig. 1 into positions oblique to the axes of the roll shafts, to withdrawthe jaws from each other. The stop screws 28 are adjusted to engage with the jaws 26 when the links 29 have been turned by the initial advance movement of the carriage with the pivot blocks 30 into positions substantially paraiv lel with the axes of the roll shafts, and have thus shifted the jawsto the limits ofjtheii movement toward each other.

The link connections between the jaws and pivot blocks 30 are preferably ronstructed and arranged assliown in Figs. 9 and 10, in connection with Fig. 1. The'linke 29 are arranged in parallel pairs above and below the jaws and pivot blocks, and the links of each pair are pivotally connected therewith by pins 3-6 and 3T, Vprojecting above and 'below the Vj'awsand blocks. Each link is composed of a strut niemierBS, hav ing longitudinally grooved sides and semicylindrical recesses in the ends fitting Voppositepivot pins 36 and 37; a yoke 40, formed with a semi-cylindrical recess fitting the pin 37 and with holes matching the g'rooves in the strut member at its outer end; and a U-bolt 41, passing arounijltlie pin 36 and through the yoke in engagement with a groove in said pin and withthe grooves in the strut member, andbinding the several parts together. The strut members 38 receive the direct thrust' on the links iii closing the jaws 26 against the spike blanks with the initial advance movement, of the carriage 28, and in confining and shaping the blanks -as they are advaneed'with the jaws between the dies 6. The links being placed above and below the jaws and pivot Ablocks equidistantvtherefrom, equally and,`

symmetrically distribute the side thrust against the jaws in forming spike bodies,

and holdA the jaws in place against anyteiidenc toward upward or downward displacement thereof. Y

A reciprocating nipper frame comprising parallel. side members 44, guided in longii a a m ex idi 0tirava i. tidin lch nnel it s45, ter ng n rlly from the sides of the frame 5 as shown in 1. 7 Iiigs. 1, 2 and 4, is provided with laterally movable nippers 46, located on opposite sides of the path of the spike blanks or bodies" as they Yare advanced by and delivered from the roll dies 6 and the jaws 26. The nippersare pivoted at 47 to the side members 44 of the nipper frame adjacent to its'front end,

from which they extend andrconverge to ward the jaws 26, and are formed or pro` vided with arms 48extending rearwardly underneath said side= members through the ways 45, and are provided at their rear ends with inwardly and rearwardly inclined slots 49. The side members lof the nipper frame are longitudinally channeled onthe under side, and in their rear ends are loosely fitted and guided, bars 52,V which are'connected by links 53 withV rocker arms. 54, fixed at their lower ends on across shaft 55 having bearings depending from the sides of the frame 5, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.v

The bars 52, which bear on the upper `sides of the nipper arms 48, as shown in Fig. 4, are provided with downwardly projecting pins 56, which engage with the inclined slots 49 in the nipper arms, for opening and closing the nippers, as hereinafter explained.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the shaft 55 is provided at one end outside of the frame 5, with an arm 60, which is connected by a link 61 with an arm 62 on the adjacent end of the shaft 21. The arm 60 has an adjustable pivot block 68, with which the link 61 is connected, and which is adjusted 4by means of a screw rod 64, and the link 61 is provided with a pivot block 65, which is adj ustable by means of screws 66 lengthwise of the link, and is connected with ythe arm 62 for varying the throw of the rocker arms 25 and the extent and limits of the longitudinal traverse of the nipper frame and nippers 46.

j As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, friction shoes or blocks 70, freely fitting in openings in cap plates 71, bolted to the ways 45 over the side members 44 of the nipper frame, are held with yielding pressure against said members by springs 72, interposed between them and vertically adjustable bars 78, connected by threaded studs 74 and nuts, with said plates. Y

The nipper frame is adjustably connected at its rear end, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 18, by rods 67 with check pistons 68 which are fitted and vwork in air cushion cylinders 69, attached to the frame 5. The pistons are formed as shown in Fig. 12, with restricted by-pass openings 75, and the cylinders are connected with each other' and with the atmosphere, as shown in Fig. 18, by equalizing pipes 76 provided with regulating valves 77.

The rear links 29, for opening and closing the jaws 26,l are connected by links 78 with drag bars 79, guided and longitudinally movable in bearings formed therefor in the front ends of the cap plates 71. The bars 79 are confined in said bearings by friction plates 80, which are bolted to the plates 71 and -are yieldingly pressed and held against said bars by springs 81, inserted between the bolt heads and friction plates, thereby providing drag or retarding Vconnections between the jaws 26 anu stationary parts of the machine for opening andclosing the jaws at the `beginning ofthe backward and forward lmovements' of the carriage 28. v n

The machine is provided with heading mechanism, to which the spike bodies aretransferred directly without reversal, from the body forming and pointing rolls 1 andv 2 and` jaws 26.` rIhe heading mechanism comprises, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, a stationary die 88, fitted and secured by cap plates 84 and screws in the front end of a longitudinal recess formed inV a bed'or crosspiece 85, spanning the space between the ways45. The die 88 is formed, as shown in F ig.y 7, with opposing or upwardly diverging longitudinal inclines 86. A vertically movable head 87 is provided on the under side with a relatively fixed die 88, and on opposite sides thereof with laterally movable dies 89. Y

For convenience in constructing, assembling and replacing parts, the intermediate fixed die 88 and theV laterally movable side dies 89, are mounted on a block 90,V detachably bolted to the lower side of the head 87. The die 88 is fitted into a longitudinal recess in the under side of the block 90, to' which it is detachably fastened by screws, as shown in Fig. 6, and the dies 89 are fastened by screws, one to a transverse slide 91 and the other to two parallel slides92, between which the slide 91 is fitted. The several slides 91 and 92, which are of the same thickness vertically, are guide'din a transverse channel formed in the under side of theV block 90, and are held in place therein by the die 88 and byplates 98, bolted to the block across the channel.

The dies 89 are formed on their outer sides with downwardly converging longitudinal inclines 94, corresponding with the inclines 86 on the stationary die 88, with which they coperate to close the dies 89, or force them together when the head 87 is forced downward toward the stationary die, as shown in Fig. 7. Bowed leaf springs 95, interposed between the die 88 and the dies 89, which are recessed on their inner sides to permit them to close or approach each other below the die 88, as shown in Fig. 7, tend to open or separate the dies 89 when they are raised out of engagement with the die 88. The head 87 is attached to a Vplunger or slide 97, which is guided, as shown in,Figs. 2.

and 4, in a stand 98, mounted on and eX- tending across the frame 5. The plunger orV vslide 97 is connected with the stand above it by springs 99, which tend to lift it with the dies 88 and 89, and to hold them normally in an elevated position above the stationary die 88. v

Between the upper end of the plunger 97 and a vertically yielding pivot bearing 100,v

guided in the stand 98 above and in alignment with the plunger, a toggle joint 101is interposed for forcing the plunger with the` dies 88 and 89 downward against the tension of the springs 99. The bearing 100 engages at its upper end with a spring seat 102, normally resting on the stand 98, and between this seat and a similar seat 108, adjustably connected by a yoke 104 and tie rods 105 with the stand, as shown in Fig. 4, ris interposed a heavy spiral spring 106, which re:

ceives the end thrust on theplunger 97 when` it is forced with the dies 88 and 89 by the toggle joint 101, downwar'd against the staf tionary die 83 and spike bodies deposited thereon.

The knuckle pivot between the members ofthe toggle joint 101, is'connected by an adjustable forked rod 108, with the upper end of a forked rocker arm 109, which is fixed on a cross shaft 110, supported in bearings on the sides of the frame 5, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

The arm 109 is provided with rollers 111,

engaging cams 112, fixed on the main drive shaft 17. An adjustable spring 115, interposed between the frame 5 and an arm 116 which is fixed on the shaft 110, tends to bend the joint 101 to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, and to hold the rollers 111 in engagement with the cams 112.

The rod 108 is supported adjacent to the to gle joint 101 by a counterbalancing spring 111, connecting it with an arm or bracket on the stand 98.

A swaging die 120, adapted to cooperate with the dies 83, 88 and 89, which serve as gripping and holding dies for forming heads on the spike bodies, is fitted and detachably fastened in a recess in the upwardly offset front end of a longitudinally reciprocating header bar 121, which is supported by rockers 122 and 123, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The rocker 122 is pivotally mounted on a',

cross rod or shaft 124, supported at the ends by arms 125, which are pivoted at one end to the frame 5 and are provided at the other end with adjusting screws 126 bearing on said frame. rlhe rocker 123 is mounted on a cross rod or shaft 128, which is supported at its ends in the sides of the frame 5. VNear its rear end the header-bar 121 is connected by a forked rod 130 with a crank or eccentric 131, with which the drive shaft 17 is provided between the cams 112. A shouldered buffer block 133, fitted in the bed 85 behind the stationaryr die 83, and extending above the same, as shown in Fig. 2, and a cross bar 134 mortised at the ends into the ways 45 and engaging the shoulder on the back side of said block, are adapted to support the gripping and holding dies 83, 88 and 89 at their rear ends, and to receive the impact of the blows delivered by the swaging die 120 against their front ends in the operation of forming heads on spike bodies, as shown in Fig. 6, the gripping and holding dies at their front ends and the swaging die being properly formed to produce heads of any desired shape.v

The nippers 46, located between the rolls 1 and 2, and the gripping and holding dies 83,88 and 89, traverse a somewhat longer path than the clamping jaws 26, and advance simultaneously therewith at a more rapid rate, so as to sever and separate the spike bodies grasped and carried forward by the nippers from the bars or bodies held between the aws 26 during their advance. The stationary Vdie 83 is located directly below the vertically movable die 88 in position to receive the severed spike bodies delivered by the nippers 46 at the forward limit of their movement, as hereinafter explained.

The header bar 121, which is of angular form as shown in Fig. 2, extends forward underneath the bed 85, and is upwardly bent or offset at its front end, which traverses an oblique path between the front endV of the` die 83 and the lower roll 2, causing the swaging die 120 near the limit of its upward and forward movements, to strike the butt ends of spike bodies held between the dies 83, 88 and 89 with sweeping or glancing blows, and form heads of the desired shape thereon according to the configuration of the dies. In its downward and backward movements the die 120 passes below the path of the nippers and spike blanks or bodies held between them,

A guide 135, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is attached to the frame 5 in position toY support the spike bodies as they are delivered from the rolls 1 and 2 and are grasped by the nippers 46.

A reciprocating channeled 3 connected by a link 138 with the header bar 121, and guided in a longitudinal groove and opening in theblock 133 below the cross bar 134, is adapted on the backward movement of the header bar 121 when the dies 88 and 89 are elevated, to remove the previously headed spikes from the die 83.

At the front end of the machine, a flanged roller 140, is mounted on a cross rod or shaft 141, to assist the operator in properly directing spike bars or blanks between the rolls 1 and 2. p v

In the operation of the machine, a spike blank or bar, rested on the roller 140, is

inserted by the operator between the rolls 1 and 2 and between the jaws 26, during or at the end of the backward movement of the carriage 23, when thejaws are open.V At the beginning of the advancemovement of the'carriage, the jaws are closed against and firmly grip the sides of the spike blank or bar, which is then carried forward between opposing dies 6, the jaws and dies advancing at the same rate of speed and coperating to'form the point and body of a spike. At the limit of the advance movement of the carriage and jaws 26, the rolls are simultaneously stopped and dwell till the car riage returns to its initialJ position and the pawl is turned backward with the rocker 15, to engage another tooth of the ratchet wheel 14. With the initial backward movement .of the carriage, the aws 26 are held stationary by the action of the friction platesY 80 on the bars 79 tillthe outer ends of the links 29 are swung backward by the backward movement of the pivot blocks 30 and the jaws ej ectorV 137,

are openedor separated, as shown in Fig. 1, whereupon they are engaged by the stops 27 andV then carried backward with the car riage. With the initial forward movement of the carriage, the j aws 26 are held stationary by the friction plates 80 till they are engaged by the stop screws 28, and the outer ends of the links 29 are Vswung forward, thereby closing the jaws against the spike kblank or bar preparatory to pointing and forming another spike body. 'l

The pawl 16 on its backward movement, is carried beyond the'next tooth of the ratchet wheel 1st a distance corresponding with the initial movement of thel carriage required to close thejaws 26 and advance the stop screws 28 against them, so that the opposing dies 6 and the jaws coperating therewith, start forward together and the actuating connec` tions of the pawl and carriage with the drive shaft 17 are 'such that the jaws and the rolls stop simultaneously at the limit of each advance movement thereof.

The spike blank or bar being firmly gripped and held at the sides Vbetween the jaws 26 while the points and bodies of spikes are being formed, the tendency of the spike bodies as they are delivered from the roll dies to bend upward or downward and follow either of the rolls, is counteracted, and lateral displacement of the lmetal is prevented. The spike bodies being rolled and formed with the points foremost, the displacement of metal required to form the points and bodies is rearward before succeeding portions of the dies are brought close enough together to prevent such kdisplacement, lateral displacement of the metal being prevented by the jaws.

rlhe pointing and formation of spike bodies of various shapes, particularly those of abruptly varying cross section, are thus facilitated and made possible by rolling the points first, it being impossible to satisfactorily point and roll bodies of abruptly varying cross section butt first. Y

During the dwell of the rolls 1 and 2 and dies 6, and the backward movement of the clamping jaws 26 with the carriage 23, the nipper frame is moved backward. Vith the initial backward movement of the bars 52, the nipper frame being held stationary by the action of the' friction blocks 70, the nippers L16 are opened or separated by the action of the pins 56 in the oblique slots 49 of the nipper arms L18, and then by the engagement of said pins with thedivergent front ends of the slotswhen the nippers are fully opened, the nipper frame is picked up and carried backward with them.

lith the initial advance movement of the bars 52 while the nipper frame is held stationary by the friction `blocks 70, thenip- Ypers are closed by the action. of the pins 56 in the Vslots 49, and tightly grip the previously formed spike bodies close to thejaws 26, which are at or about the same time closed againstanother section of the spike blank'or bar preparatory to the formation of another spike body. The nippers being vthus closed, are advanced with the lnipper frame 'simultaneously with the advance of the jaws 26 and the coperating roll dies 6.

In the advance movement of the friction actuating bars 52, the nipper frame is picked up and carried forward with the nippers before the pins 56 engage the convergent rear ends of the slots 49,. whenever Y its momentum, when the static friction of Y.

the shoes 70, which is much greater than the friction of motion, is overcome, is prevented by the check pistons 68, the resistance to whose movement in either direction is regulated as required by the adjustment of the valves 77.' Y.

The traverse of the nippers with the nip.- per frame being greater and hence at a more rapid rate, than the simultaneous advance of theV aws 26 and coperating dies 6,V the film of metal connecting the butt end of the spike body held byl thenippers, and the point of the succeeding spike body held by the jaws and dies, is ruptured, and the spike body carried by the nippers is separated from the spike bar or body held between the clamping jaws.

With the initial backward movement of the'friction connecting bars 52, the nippers are opened, and drop the spike body held between them into the channel in the upper side of the ejector 137, which then projects backward over the stationary die 83.

As the nipper frame with the nippers moves backward and the header bar 121 moves forward, the ejector 137 is withdrawn from the die 83 and the head87 withithe dies 88 and 89 is thrust downward by the action of the toggle joint101, rocker arm 109 and cams 112. The die 88 is thus forced down upon the top of the spike body resting on the die 83, the ejector 137 having just been withdrawn as above stated by the forward movement of the header-bar 121 leaving the spike body on the die 83, and the laterally movable dies 89 by engagement of their inclined faces 94V with the inclined faces 86 of the die 83, are forced toward each other againstv the sides ofthe spike body, which is thus firmly gripped and held by its ward movement, strikes the protruding butt endk of the spike body with an upwardly glancing or sweeping blow, and forms a head thereon, as shown in Fig. 6, the gripping dies cooperating with the swaging die to produce a head of the desired shape. As

the header bar 121 is swung backward and downward, and the dies 88 and-89l are withdrawn upward, the ejector 137 thrusts the headed spike backward and removes it from the stationary die 83 on which it loosely rests. y f

With each revolution of the drive shaft 17 the several operations hereinbefore mentioned are repeated, and a spike isformed and discharged from the machine upon the floor or into a receptacle below the bed 85.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the machine may be made without materially affecting its mode of operation and without departure from the principle of the invention as deiined in the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a spike machine the combination with mechanism for forming and pointing spike bodies points foremost from continuous bars, of heading mechanism comprising gripping dies arranged to receive the spike bodies as they are delivered from the body forming and pointing mechanism, and a reciprocating swaging die movable .into and out of the path of the spike bodies between the body forming and pointingmechanism v and the gripping dies and adapted on its forward strokes to form heads on the spike bodies heldby and projecting from the front ends of said gripping dies.

2. In a spike machine the combination with mechanism for forming and pointing spike bodies, of heading mechanism vcomprising gripping dies arranged to receive the spike bodies as they are delivered points foremost from the body forming and pointing mechanism, and a reciprocating swag-4 ingdie adapted by obliquely delivered blows on its forward strokes to upset and form heads on the front butt ends of spike bodies held by the gripping dies, and a reciprocatf ing ejector adapted on its backward strokes to remove headed spikes from the gripping dies. f

3. In a spike machine the combination with pointing mechanism, of heading mechanism comprising a stationary die having opposing inclines, a reciprocating head movable toward and from the stationary die and provided with a relatively fixed die and two laterally movable dies located on opposite l the stationary die in position to be operated sides of the fixed die and having inclines adapted'by engagementl with the inclines on the stationary die to force the laterally movable dies toward Veach other when they are moved toward the stationary die, and a re'- ciprocating swaging die adapted on its forward strokes toform heads onthe butt ends of spike bodies held bythe other dies, and

means for transferring the spike bodies from the pointing mechanism points foremost V.to

upon by the other dies.

4. In a spike machine the combination with intermittently rotated Vrolls and laterally opening and closing reciprocating jaws movable between and'transversely to the axes of the rolls and cooperating with said rolls toV form pointed spike bodies from continuous bars',- of heading mechanism comprising a stationary die having opposing inclines, a reciprocating head movable toward and from the stationary die and provided with a relatively fiXed intermediate die and two laterally movable dies having inclines adapted by engagement with the inclines on the stationary dieto force said laterally movable dies toward each other when they are moved toward the stationary die, and a reciprocatingv swaging die adapted on its forward strokes to form heads on the front ends of spike bodies held between the other dies; and laterally opening and closing reciprocating nippers adapted to grasp and separatespike bodies from those held between saidV jaws and to transfer vthem to the stationary heading die .in position to be operatedv upon by the other dies.v

5. In a spike machine the combination with mechanism for forming spike bodies points foremost, of heading mechanism comprising a stationary lower die, a vertically movable upper die, laterally movable side dies movable with the upper die toward and from the lower die, a reciprocating swaging die adapted on its forward strokes to form heads on the front ends ofspike bodies held. between the other dies, anda buifer'block engaging the rear end of the stationary die and adapted to receive the impact of the loro blows of the swaging die against the front ends of the other dies. Y

6. In a spike machine the combination with mechanism4 for forming spike Vbodies points foremost, of heading mechanism comprising a stationary die, a frame bed for supporting said die, a vertically movable die opposing the stationaryn die, laterally movable dies connected and movable withV the vertically movable die, a longitudinally reciprocating swaging die `adapted on its forward strokes to coperate with the other dies and form heads on'spike bodies held between them, a shouldered block mounted on said bed in position to bear against the backA endsofv the stationary and vertically and laterally movable dies and to receive the impact of the blows of the swaging die against their frontends, and a cross bar supported at the ends by the machine frame and engaging the shoulder on said block.

7. In a spike machine the combination with mechanism for forming spike bodies points foremost, of stationary and vertically and laterally movable holding dies, a longitudinally reciprocating swaging die adapted on its forward strokes to coperate with the front ends of the other dies to form heads on spike bodies held between them, a longitudinally channeled block mounted on the machine frame behind the stationary die and projecting above the same in position to receive the impact of the blows of the swaging die against the front ends of the holding dies, and a reciprocating ejector guided in the channel of said block and adapted on its backward strokes to remove spikes from the holding dies when they are opened.

8. In a spike machine the combination with body forming mechanism and means for transferring spike bodies therefrom points foremost, of heading mechanism comprising stationary and vertically and laterally movable holding dies arranged to receive the spike bodies from said transferring means, a longitudinally reciprocating header bar extending forwardly underneath the stationary holding die and having an upwardly offset front end, and a swaging die mounted on the front end of said bar and movable therewith toward the front ends of the holding dies to form heads on spike bodies held between them with forwardly and upwardly sweeping blows.

9. In a spike machine the combination of body forming mechanism comprising intermittently rotated rolls provided with opposing dies, a reciprocating carriage movable between and transversely to the axes of the rolls and provided with laterally opening and closing clamping aws working on opposite sidesof the roll dies and capable of limited longitudinal movement relative to the carriage, two pairs of transversely disposed links connecting each jaw above and below the same with the carriage, each link connecting pivot pins on the jaw and carriage and vcomposed of strut and yoke members and of a U-bolt binding them together upon the pivot pins, and friction drag connections between the jaws and stationary parts of the machine.

10. In a spike machine the combination of body forming mechanism comprising a pair of shouldered rolls, radially slotted spacing rings fitted to the shoulders on the rolls, dies fitted in the slots of the spacing rings, cap rings fitting over the spacing rings and bolted therewith to the rolls, and set screws threaded in the cap rings opposite the slots mechanism to the heading mechanism, comprising a reciprocating frame, laterally opening and closing nippers carried by said frame on opposite sides of the path of the spike bodies, actuating means connected with the nippers and adapted to open and close them at the beginning of their forward and backward movements and through them to reciprocate said frame, and a cushion cylinder and piston one of which is connected with said reciprocating frame and the other with a stationary part of the machine.

12. In a spike machine the combination with body forming mechanism and heading mechanism, of mechanism for transferring spike bodies from the body forming mechanism to the heading mechanism comprising a reciprocating frame, laterally opening and closing nippers connected with said frame, actuating means connected with the nippers and adapted to open and close them at the limits of the backward and forward movements of said frame and then to pick up and move the frame backward and forward, a cushion cylinder and piston one of which is connected with said reciprocating frame and the other with a stationary part of the machine, and means for adjusting the fluid resistance to relative movement between the piston' and cylinder.

and forward, stationary cushion cylindersy provided with check pistons connected with the frame, and equalizing connections' between thel cylinders provided with vent openings to the atmosphere and with regulating valves.

14. In a spike machine the combination with body forming mechanism and heading mechanism, of mechanism for transferring spike bodies from the body forming mechanism to the heading mechanism comprising a longitudinally reciprocating frame, transversely opening and closing nippers connected with said frame, actuating means connected with the nippers and adapted to open and close them at the limits of the forreciprocating frame and the other with a ward and backward movements of the frame stationary part of they machine and adapted and then to pick up and move the frame to prevent its ov'errunning predetermined l0 backward and forward, a friction drag arlimits of movement.

5 ranged to resist the initial movement of the In witness whereof I hereto alix my signipper frame, and a cushion cylinder and nature. piston one of which is connected with said LAURENCE J. BERKELEY. 

